Mohamed Salah has been linked with Liverpool exits several times over the past few years, with Barcelona coming close to tempting him out of Merseyside back in 2022
Mo Salah on the bench
Mo Salah came close to joining Barcelona in 2022
(Image: Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah exit sagas aren't exactly rare anymore, but in 2022, one particularly tense contract cliffhanger was quietly bubbling beneath the surface. This season, the Liverpool superstar has been resisting the velvet-wrapped, treasure-laden lure of Saudi Arabia - but three years ago, it was Barcelona singing the siren song.
The Catalan giants had dangled a tantalising promise of a free transfer in 2023 when Salah's contract was set to expire - and the Egyptian King was seriously considering it. Barcelona's charm offensive was effective, but it probably didn't have to be given the club's weighty prestige and irresistible allure.
Having spent the prime of his career at Anfield, Salah, then 29, began casting curious glances towards new pastures. He was also seeking a wage hike that reflected his relentless, goal-hoovering form - having netted 31 times in successive seasons.
Enter Barcelona, who were eager to rebuild under new manager Xavi after enduring a three-year La Liga title drought - their longest in over two decades. Lionel Messi had left the summer before, and Los Cules were desperate for a new attacking talisman, with £88million signing Ousmane Dembele failing to deliver amid struggles with both fitness and form.
Salah wasn't actively seeking a move away from Liverpool and had even reassured close friends that it was only a matter of time before a contract extension was signed. But Barcelona's interest forced a sudden rethink, and he slammed on the brakes.
It came at a delicate moment: Liverpool and Salah had been locked in contract talks for over a year, and his decision to pause negotiations in light of Barcelona's offer sent a clear, and somewhat jarring, message: not only was he willing to leave, he might actually welcome it.
Liverpool held their breath, knowing that losing their star man would come as a monumental blow - particularly on a free transfer. After all, Salah had fully etched his name into the club's history books, having fired them to their first Premier League title in 30 years, as well to Champions League glory - and bagged over 150 goals along the way.
Lionel Messi and Mo Salah competing for the ball
Barcelona wanted Mo Salah to replace Lionel Messi, who'd be forced out of the club the year before
But his contract demands were steep. Already among the Premier League's top earners on £200,000-a-week, Salah was seeking nearly double that figure in his new deal. The Reds, wary of their wage structure, were reluctant to fold.
Ultimately, though, the saga lasted only a few more weeks before Salah put an end to the speculation, signing a new three-year contract worth an eye-watering £350,000 per week.
Whether Barcelona's interest jolted Liverpool into action, or whether the Spanish club's ambitions were always destined to dissolve under the weight of their finances concerns, we'll never know. What's clear is that their seductive pitch never became more than that - a dream dressed in prestige but draped in impracticality.
What remains is a tantalising 'what if.' A momentary flirtation that never blossomed into anything more.
Salah signing his Liverpool contract extension in 2025
In both 2022 and 2025, Salah ended speculation about his future by extending his Liverpool contract
There's a fine line between loyalty and fickleness in football - a line Salah has danced along more than once. He's listened to offers, entertained possibilities, and let speculation swirl - most notably, spending much of the 2024/25 season in limbo amid another tense contract standoff and an uber-lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League.
But the bottom line is he's always stayed put. In an era where allegiance is often as short-lived as form, Salah's enduring commitment to Liverpool is worthy of respect.
External flirtations aside, it's a choice he's made, again and again - proving that while his eyes may have wandered, his heart never truly left Anfield.
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